ENGLAND are poised to follow Steve Harmison’s blueprint for success against Australia despite overlooking him in their squad for this week’s opening npower Ashes Test.

The 30-year-old Durham fast bowler caused the tourists considerable discomfort for England Lions during their drawn match at Worcester, claiming six wickets and reminding Australia of the potent force he was during the 2005 series.

That performance was not enough to persuade the selectors to include him in their 13-man squad for the opening Test in Cardiff, although the short-pitched bowling tactics he used successfully to remove opener Phil Hughes in both innings will be utilised by those who do make the starting line-up.

Instead, England have included Durham team-mate Graham Onions and Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell as the extra players in the squad alongside the line-up who drew at Edgbaston in last week’s practice match while Harmison will travel to Headingley to face Yorkshire next week.

“Steve did come into the discussion, but we’ve also got other bowlers who can do that as well,” said national selector Geoff Miller.

“It wasn’t just a fact that it was Steve who did it, it showed us an area that maybe he has a problem with but I’m sure knowing the Australians they’ll go away and try and rectify that themselves.

“That’s what Test cricket is all about, analysing your game and moving on. But what it has shown us is that we have bowlers who can bowl those deliveries as well as Steve.”

Stuart Broad will have noticed Harmison’s success with the short ball having ruffled Ramnaresh Sarwan with the tactic earlier this summer, while Andrew Flintoff can also be relied upon to bowl with hostility.

James Anderson’s ability to swing the ball will compliment the pace of the other pair while Onions, who claimed 10 wickets in the two-Test series against West Indies earlier this summer, is another seam option if England do not decide to play spinners Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann as a double spin option.

“We’ve seen what Steve can do and we know what he’s capable of doing, we just need him to go away and continue to do that because there might be some surface somewhere later on in the series that requires the kind of bowler that Steve Harmison is – he’s quite understanding of that,” said Miller.

“Steve bowled really well at Worcester, but the thinking was that Graham Onions has got possession of the position, he’s done well (with England) and done well in county cricket. We are consistent with our selection policy so he got the nod.

“It’s not a sprint, this series, it is a marathon with five Test matches and I had a chat with Steve yesterday, who understood the situation but there’s another four Tests after this so we’ll wait and see there.”

While Harmison has every reason to be disappointed by his exclusion, Northamptonshire left-arm spinner Panesar has rediscovered his touch at just the right time having struggled during the early months of the county season.

Panesar has been widely criticised for his lack of variety, not least from Shane Warne, and had claimed only six championship wickets in as many matches prior to grabbing three victims in last week’s warm-up match.

“It’s a strange thing spin because you can bowl well and not get wickets and then from nowhere you can just get a five-for, and Monty’s that sort of performer,” said Miller.

“He’s an international quality bowler and we know what he’s capable of doing. By his own admission he would say he’s had a problem and has not been bowling as well as he could but gradually it’s started getting better and better.

“His confidence isn’t back to the extent that it was when he was bowling sides out, but it’s not far from it.

“Having had discussions with Monty over the last month or so while playing for Northants I could see the gradual improvement. When you talk with someone you can see the improvement in what he’s trying to do and it’s getting better.”

Miller’s faith in Panesar’s ability to perform, if selected, later this week is more than matched by his bullishness about England’s chances of matching their stunning success four years ago against an Australian side in transition following the retirement of many of their established players.

“I’m very confident,” confirmed Miller. “I know we’ve got players there who, if they play like they can play, we can give these a really hard ride.”

Asked whether this series can match the excitement of 2005, Miller added: “It can but it will be tough to match up to that. What I will say is that I certainly believe the result can be the same. If you look at the league table we’re three or four places behind them but when it comes to this encounter I think they’ll have to play really well to beat us.”